any additional protein that we take in will be used for energy. calories will be broken down and burned for calories. and of course, a lot of those proteins are found in animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs, poultry, fish, lamb, beef, although it's quite possible to also get them by combining plant foods and legumes and things like that. linda gigliotti: we will really get enough protein from taking in about five to six ounces of meat per day. now three ounces of meat is about the size of a deck of playing cards. so you can kind of imagine a day's intake, that if i have a couple ounces maybe at breakfast or lunch, three ounces, that deck of playing cards on my plate at night would really give me enough protein, assuming i'm eating the other foods in the guideline as well. but as americans we don't eat the deck of playing cards. we eat the paperback book, you know, a very large paperback book, as our portion size. for health conscious people who have worked hard to minimize or eliminate fat from their diets, it may come as a surprise to learn